Tripod or stand.



Ne. 697,l47.

Patented Apr. 8,1902. C. W. HOWARD. 4

TRIPOD 0R STAND.

(Application filed Au 9,1901. (No Model.)

l l l l I l u I l I l I ll Clara/me Wji aawri fly w R UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE WV. HOWARD, OF KIRKNVOOD, ILLINOIS.

TRIPOD OR STAND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 697,147, dated April 8,1902.

Application filed August 9,1901. Serial No. 71,453. (No model.)

To (bi/Z whom, it may con-007%:

Beitknown that I, CLARENCE W. HOWARD, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing at Kirkwood, in the county of \Varren and State ofIllinois, have invented a new and useful Tripod or Stand, of which thefollowing is a clear, full, and exact description.

My invention relates to tripods or stands adapted to serve as supportsfor photographic cameras,snrveyinginstruments,and otherapparatus, andhas for its object to provide a simple construction by which thetripod-legs when spread maybe securely braced and when folded may besecurely fastened together. The mechanism in which I embody my inventionand by whichI accomplish these purposes will be hereinafterfullydescribed and the features of novelty pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of my tripod supporting a photographiccamera, the dotted lines showing the tripod-legs partly closed together.Fig. 2 is an elevation of my tripod, showing the legs folded together,the camera being removed and a cap or handle placed on the head of thetripod. Fig. 3 is a detail of part of the tripod-leg G, showing theconnection of the leg-bracin g device therewith. Fig. 4: is alongitudinal section of partof the tripod-leg G, showing the wedge V,which binds the loose sleeve J tightly on the leg. Fig. 5 is across-section of the leg G, taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is across-section of the leg I, taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 1.

In my tripod the legs G, H, and I are preferably made of roundmetaltubing and preferably attached to the tripod-head A by springmembers F. The head A has, preferably, the ordinary socket and ball B,carrying the shank O, to which the camera D is attached in the ordinarymanner. The head may also be f urnished with a cap or handle W to beattached to the head when the tripod is not in use, as shown in Fig. 2,preferably by being screwed on the head A. The legs G, H, and I arehollow and contain extension legs or rods U, which may be drawn out orin and are preferably held in place by loose sleeves Q, which when sliddown on the legs compress the split lower ends thereof tightly on theextensionrods.

My improved spreading-brace for the legs consists of a loose sleeve J onone of the legs G, to which sleeve are pivoted at K K the rods or arms Land X. The arm L is pivoted at its other end to the leg I at Y, and thearm X is pivoted at its other end to the leg II at Z. The arm M ispivoted at either end to the legs II and I, respectively, at N and N andis joint-' erably formed in the shape of the wedge V,

which binds the sleeve tightly in position.

One of the extension-rods U has attached thereto and near its lower enda binding de vice R for securely holding the legs together when thetripod is folded, having the rings S and T, each ring adapted to tightlyhold the lower end of one of the extension-rods of the other legs. Whenthe legs are folded together, the extension-rods U in the legs G and Hare pushed in and the extension-rod carrying the device R is drawn outof leg I sufiiciently to throw the device R farther from the head A thanthe ends of the extension-rods in legs G and H. Then the extensionrod Ubeing pushed in the leg I the rings S and T pass over and around thelower ends of the extension-rods of the other legs G and H, and thus allthe legs are tightly held together.

I have given the preferred form of construction of my invention; but itwill be understood that I do not confine myself to such specificconstruction above detailed, and shown in the drawings, but reserve theright to use any suitable construction to carry out my invention,particularly pointed out in the claims.

I clain1 1. A tripod or stand consisting of a head, legs, and a devicefor bracing the legs when spread which consists of a rod or arm pivotedIce sleeve and at itsother end to one of the other legs.

3. A tripod or stand consisting of a head, legs, and a device forbracing the legs when spread, which comprises a loose sleeve adaptedtoslide .up and down 011 one of the legs, and rods or arms each pivoted atone end to the sleeve, one of the rods or arms pivoted at its other endto a second leg of the tripod,

, and the other arm or rod pivoted at its other end to the third leg ofthe tripod.

4. A tripod or stand consisting of a head, legs, and a device forbracing the legs when spread, which comprises a loose sleeve adapted toslide up and down on one of the legs, and rods or arms each pivoted atone end to the sleeve, one of the arms or rods pivoted at 5. A tripod orstand comprising ahead;

legs G, H, I; the leg I having the extension rod or member U telescopedin said legIand slidable longitudinally therein; and on saidextension-rod near its lower end a member comprising the rings S and T,said rings adapted to tightly inclose or enclasp the lower ends of theother legs G, H, when the legs are folded together and saidextension-rod is pushed in, and adapted to release said legs G, H, whensaid extension-rod is drawn outward, substantially as and for thepurpose described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name in the presence of twosubscribing Witnesses.

CLARENCE W. HOVARD.

Witnesses:

R. W. HOUSTON, R. D. TINKHAM.

